Dennys Reyes agreed Dec. 8 to a $1.1 million contract with the Phillies. Not my first choice but a passable deal to balance a bullpen devoid of portsiders. Strangely, the Phillies never formally announced the deal. It is not unusual for a few days to pass between an agreement and an official announcement, since players typically have to fly to Philadelphia for a team physical. That is why the Phillies waited until Wednesday to announce they had signed Cliff Lee, who had agreed to terms Monday. Now it is apparent (a mere 9 days after the fact) that there will be no Reyes announcement – and adding insult to injury, there will be very little in the way of an explanation!

“We hit a snag,” said Oscar Suarez, Reyes’ agent. “So we just decided to push back.” Asked if it was health related, Suarez said, “It just didn’t work out. We’re back on the [free agent] market. I don’t want to get into details why.”

Brian Fuentes is the only real answer for the Phillies

Now that Reyes is out of the picture with regard to the Phillies, that might open the door for Chad Durbin to return. The Phillies still would like a left-hander (or two), but there aren’t many free agents available. J.C. Romero returns maybe (ugh)? Brian Fuentes now more than ever is the best choice the Phillies can make. The market is dangerously thin as Pedro Feliciano (NYY) and Scott Downs (LAA) have signed elsewhere. If the Phillies don’t sign Fuentes then they really must have no intention of solving a sorely-needed lack of lefties in the bullpen. Even a pitching staff with four aces needs some bullpen help from time to time. Signing a lefty closer to compliment Lidge, Madsen and Contreras is EXACTLYwhat the Phillies ought to do. Vance Worley is a candidate for the other bullpen spot, meaning that there would be a max of ONE left-hander – unless the team goes with 12 pitchers. Even then there are few choices available within the organization and a dwindling number of possibities on the open market.

"Joe Bulgy" is more likely to be trade bait than the Phils #5 starter

Trading Joe Blanton (owed 17 M dollars) would open up a few more possibilities but the team has not mentioned this as an option to solve the bullpen problem. Any Blanton trade would likely be pointed toward bringing back an outfielder to platoon with Ben Francisco, Raul Ibanez, Domonic Brown, John Mayberry, Ross Gload and a cast of thousands. However, it would be nice if Ruben Amaro could find a trading partner willing to offer both. Oakland? Toronto? Batimore seems to be a refuge for excommunicated veteran pitchers. Texas would be my choice but no one has asked my opinion. Blanton originally played with Oakland and Texas is much closer to home (Nashville, TN) but more importantly, this sort of deal could garner the likes of lefty Derek Holland and outfielder Nelson Cruz. Obviously such a deal would need to involve more than just Blanton but packaging “Joe Bulgy” along with Mayberry and a third player could prove an interesting talent swap.

Feliciano is headed for the Bronx

Ineffective lefties in the Phillies farm system such as Mike Zagurski, Joe Savery and Antonio Bastardo are simply no longer options. In fact, Bastardo and Zagurski are literally out of options. If they don’t make the major league roster they will be released to the free agent market and would have to clear waivers with all 29 teams before they could be reassigned to the minor leagues. Sergio Escalona is the only other left-handed pitcher listed on the 40-man roster not named Lee or Hamels. It is fairly certain they have secured spots in the rotation.

Blanton’s one of those guys who was better in the A.L. then the N.L. I’m sure you guys back east aren’t exactly enamored with him but he was very good in Oakland for years. They just brought back Harden; and Ryan Sweeney has gone from 4th outfielder to reserve with the DeJesus acquisition.
You never know when somebody’s gonna get hurt (well, in Oakland you do know; practically every other game) The A’s were prepared to spend a zillion on Beltre and that Japanese guy Iwakuma or whatever his name was. Blanton’s salary should be pocket change.

Agreed, he was an effective pitcher, which was why we traded for him in 2008. The question is why would we sign him to a contract for 17 million if we can’t trust him to go 5 innings (his limit used to be 6) in a postseason game?

I truly think he has a lot of juice left in his arm, I’m just not sure how he fits into the Phils plans anymore or what it will take to light a fire under him. Sometimes a change of scenery is good and sometimes it has a negative effect. I think Blanton will do well closer to home (Texas) but if his old Oakland home works, that’s fine with me!